Fuze system

Abstract

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuse system (22) for a munitions projectile, the system comprising: a first electro-optic transmitter (24); a first electro-optic receiver (30); the first electro-optic transmitter (24) being arranged to receive electrical power, and to use that received electrical power to transmit an optical signal (28) to the first electro-optic receiver (30); the first electro-optic receiver (30) being arranged to receive the optical signal (28), and to use that received optical signal (28) to transmit electrical power to an element (34) of the fuse system (22) connected to the first electro-optic receiver (30).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fuse system for a munitions projectile, the system comprising:
 a first electro-optic transmitter arranged to receive electrical power from a first power source external from the munitions projectile, and to use that received electrical power to transmit a first optical signal; 
 a second power source different from the first power source; 
 a second electro-optic transmitter arranged to receive electrical power from the second power source, and to use that received electrical power to transmit a second optical signal; 
 an electro-optic receiver arranged to receive the first optical signal and the second optical signal, and to use the received first optical signal and the received second optical signal to transmit electrical power to a power receiving element of the fuse system; and 
 a fuse activator and/or fuse, wherein the second power source of the fuse system is hard wired to the fuse activator and/or fuse such that the fuse activator and/or fuse is configured to be electrically powered without use of an electro-optic transmitter and/or an electro-optic receiver. 
 
     
     
       2. The fuse system of  claim 1 , wherein the electro-optic receiver comprises a photovoltaic element. 
     
     
       3. The fuse system of  claim 2 , wherein the electro-optic receiver is configured to act as a low impedance current source. 
     
     
       4. The fuse system of  claim 1 , comprising the power receiving element, wherein the power receiving element is a memory element of the fuse system, and wherein the memory element is configured to set the fuse activator and/or fuse of the fuse system. 
     
     
       5. The fuse system of  claim 1 , comprising the power receiving element, wherein the power receiving element is a memory element of the fuse system and is configured to set the fuse activator and/or fuse, and the fuse system further comprises a data line connecting the memory element to the fuse activator and/or fuse of the fuse system. 
     
     
       6. The fuse system of  claim 5 , wherein the data line comprises an opto-coupler. 
     
     
       7. The fuse system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second electro-optic transmitters and the electro-optic receiver are configured for power transfer. 
     
     
       8. The fuse system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuse system is arranged such that the second power source can only be used during or after a firing of the munitions projectile. 
     
     
       9. The fuse system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuse activator and/or fuse of the fuse system cannot receive any power from the first electro-optic transmitter. 
     
     
       10. The fuse system of  claim 1 , comprising the power receiving element, wherein the power receiving element is configured to receive power derived from the first power source only via the first optical signal and to receive power derived from the second power source only via the second optical signal. 
     
     
       11. A munitions projectile comprising the fuse system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       12. A fuse system for a munitions projectile, the system comprising:
 a first electro-optic transmitter arranged to receive electrical power from a first power source external from the munitions projectile, and to use that received electrical power to transmit a first optical signal; 
 a second power source different from the first power source; 
 a second electro-optic transmitter arranged to receive electrical power from the second power source, and to use that received electrical power to transmit a second optical signal; 
 an electro-optic receiver arranged to receive the first optical signal and the second optical signal, and to use the received first optical signal and the received second optical signal to transmit electrical power to a memory element connected to the electro-optic receiver; and 
 a data line connecting the memory element to a fuse activator and/or a fuse of the fuse system, such that the memory element is configured to set the fuse activator and/or fuse of the fuse system via the data line, and wherein the second power source of the fuse system is hard wired to the fuse activator and/or fuse. 
 
     
     
       13. The fuse system of  claim 12 , wherein the memory element receives power derived from the first power source only via the first optical signal and receives power derived from the second power source only via the second optical signal. 
     
     
       14. The fuse system of  claim 12 , wherein the electro-optic receiver comprises a photovoltaic element. 
     
     
       15. The fuse system of  claim 12 , wherein the fuse system is arranged such that the second power source can only be used during or after a firing of a munitions projectile comprising that fuse system. 
     
     
       16. The fuse system of  claim 12 , wherein the data line comprises an opto-coupler.